Sustainable energy development in Africa: The feasibility of nuclear power

Abstract

This paper explores the feasibility of commercial nuclear implementation in Africa; in the context of energy security and sustainable development in the continent. Amongst the several contemporary challenges Africa faces, the current energy crisis and the growing threat of climate change appear to be the most critical of all. To address these challenges, Nuclear is currently being considered as a potential low-carbon energy solution for Africa. In an era where most advanced economies are implementing policies promoting heavy reliance on renewable energy sources, many African countries appear to be showing significant interest in nuclear. Several factors such as energy diversification, reduce dependency on fossil fuel sources, climate change concerns, air pollution, rising energy demand seem responsible for the growing interest in nuclear among many African countries. However, this study posits that any assessment of the feasibility of nuclear implementation in Africa must consider the several safety issues associated with the energy technology and the motivation and capacity of African countries to embark on nuclear projects. In this regard, this research sets out to assess the feasibility of nuclear implementation in the context of energy security and sustainable energy development in Africa. It...